Visit to Rameshwaram

Tamil Nadu Darshan

I have recently travelled to Rameshwaram - Madurai - Kanyakumari from Kolkata. So, lets start with my story :)

Pamban Bridge

So technically, nearest city to Rameshwaram is Madurai. Therefore, people will see to travel directly to Madurai rather taking a flight to Chennai. I too thought of the same. But after doing research, I found Madurai flights are very costly, from any airport and also very time consuming. There is very less direct flights and the via flights have a long lay off period. So, I decided to book a direct flight for Chennai which is cheaper. 
I also booked train at 7 PM from Chennai Egmore to Rameshwaram. 

TIP: This way you get to see the most amazing and unique railway route of India. The experience of traveling via Pamban Bridge is a mus, if you are traveling to Rameshwaram.

NOTE: I will also attach the itinerary which I made for our travel to give you an idea.

Personal Itinerary

Day 1: Kolkata - Chennai

We took a flight at 8 AM from Kolkata and arrived at Chennai by 10:30 AM. It’s a 2:30 hour journey.
After relaxing at the airport we took a Uber taxi for ₹250 to Chennai Egmore station where we already had booked a small hotel for few hours as my parents are senior citizen and they needed some rest.

TIP: Guys, please prefer Uber/Ola as they charge half of what the prepaid taxis asked for. Prepaid or normal taxis asked for ₹600 whereas Uber took ₹250 only.

So, we reached Chennai Egmore station in 1 hour due to traffic. 

We booked Hotel Velvet Villa at ₹800 (Makemytrip), which was opposite to Chennai Egmore station.
There are multiple hotels ans lodges, but we didn’t want to spend more for few hours stay. 
This hotel charges ₹1500 but Makemytrip gave a good discount. 

Chennai Egmore Station

TIP: I will suggest- Always book hotels online comparing in different web site. This way you can get a good deal.

We explored Chennai Egmore, had lunch at near by restaurant, which offered South Indian meal (unlimited) at ₹80-₹100. 

TIP: If you wish instead of relaxing at hotel for the day, you can explore Chennai - Marina beach, shopping malls etc.

In the evening we packed dinner from Hotel Chandra Park, food was very tasty and reasonable. Also, North Indian can go for the food here. Hotel rooms are also good but a bit expensive for few hours stay. 

TIP: Do pack dinner before getting into the train, as you will not get food in the train.

NOTE: There are multiple trains from Chennai Egmore to Rameshwaram:
1) Train no. 22661 
Starts from Chennai at 5:50 PM and reaches at 4:35 AM. It’s the shortest with journey time of 11 hours. But you have to get up by 4 AM to watch the Pamban Bridge.
2) Train no. 16794
Starts at 5:30 PM from Chennai and reaches by 7:10 AM. Journey time 13:40 hours.
3) Train no. 16851
Starts at 7:15 PM from Chennai and reaches by 8:35 AM. Journey time 13:20 hours. I booked this train.
So, we boarded the train and the journey was comfortable. 

Rameshwaram Express

DAY 2: Rameshwaram

At around 7 AM we were ready to see Pamban Bridge and click pictures.
After crossing Mandapam station, train got slow & there were beautiful peacocks on the sides of the track. By 8 AM train slowly started on the bridge. 
Once entered the sea zone we all got excited to see the beauty of the sea. Water was blue in color and so clear. As I looked down towards the sea, I got goosebumps too. We could also see the remains/stones of the broken bridge. (The bridge got destroyed in 1964 cyclones).

Slowly the train crossed the bridge & we reached our first destination - Rameshwaram by 8:30 AM. We were 6 people so we hired a Tavera from outside the station. There are autos and cabs standing outside. You have to bargain with them.

NOTE: You will not get any coolie in the station.

Rameshwaram Station

~Stay at Hotel Saara~
 
Pros: 

• Booked it through Makemytrip in ₹2500 for 2 nights.
• Its a normal hotel with basic amenities. Newly renovated/built and very clean.
• Very near to Rameshwaram Temple and Sea Beach, which is two most important place for Rameshwaram visit.
• Charged for extra person/bed for ₹600.
• Hot water available.
• Cab available on request.

Cons:

• Not much spacious but worth the money which we paid. 
• Bathroom is small, but didn’t face much problem. 
• No lift and restaurant. But you can order and they will provide food from nearby restaurant.

View from Hotel Saara's Terrace

Next to hotel, there is MCM lodge which is also a hotel. On the third floor of MCM lodge they have restaurant. They serve North Indian thali and different vegetarian dishes. It is run by Rajasthani brothers. We opted for this restaurant only. Food is good & pocket-friendly, but don’t expect much in Rameshwaram. 

Rameshwaram is a very small town with basic amenities. They are still developing because tourist come which is also a way to earn money for them. But roads are very nice and maintained.

Sri Rameshwaram Temple:

Sri Ramanathswamy Temple (East Gate)

So we went to seek darshan of Lord Shiva at around 12 PM. There was rush and long queue. We took ₹50 entry ticket which has separate queue and another queue was for free.
But still we had to wait. Meanwhile, a person came and asked for ₹500 for making the darshan quick. As we were tired we said yes. He took us to the main door where Lord Shiva resides. And pushed us in the queue. It was not right to do that, as people standing from so long had to wait for more as we came in between them. And for this we paid ₹500. 
Anyhow, nobody shouted in objection and we had a lovely darshan of Lord Shiva. 

TIP: If you wear spectacles, better carry one because Lord Shiva’s Lingam is inside and in dark with no lights. Only diyas are lighten up. So, it becomes tough to understand and see the Lingam properly.

TIP: Don't pay pundits easily for darshan and if you do then please bargain.

After the beautiful darshan, the person asked for more ₹500 for Ma Parvati darshan and we declined it.
Maa Parvati Temple has small queues so you can easily get the darshan.

We went back, had lunch and relaxed. In the evening, we went to the beach where people take bath. Not much clean.
Then we hired a auto in ₹250 which took us for a local visit to different temples. Ram Mandir, Lakshman Mandir, & Hanuman Mandir.
Hanuman Mandir is the place where you can see the big stones floating in the water. Miraculous !!

Temple Night View

Day 3: Rameshwaram Visit

In the morning 4 AM we woke up, and few of us went to take a dip in the sea. 

TIP: Be careful while taking dip in sea as waves are strong. Also, water is too salty.

NOTE: There is a belief that one should take dip in sea then go to temple, and take bath with the water of 22 kunds (which is in the temple premises) before Darshan. You have to pay a nominal amount for taking bath there. We didn’t go for the Kund Bath.

Sea Beach

We reached Temple by 5:30 AM for Mani Darshan - a small shiv ling made of Spatik (crystal stone). Mani Lingam Darshan starts from morning 5 AM to 6 AM only. We did a ₹50 darshan, there was not much rush.
Then, we roamed inside the temple took pictures in one corner. 
By 6:30 AM we again went for the free darshan and waited in the queue. And again we had a divine darshan of  Shiv Lingam. Around 7:30- 8 AM we were standing there and also got a chance to see the Aarti. 

TIP: You can carry mobile.

TIP: There is no strict dress code for the temple. But wear decent dress.

NOTE: You can buy Prasadam (Laddoos, Date palm (khajoor), Charanamrit) starting from ₹50. There are counters inside the temple.

Inside and outside the Temple

After coming out, we had breakfast in near by restaurants.
Then by 11 AM we hired an AC Tavera for ₹1300 for a visit to Ram setu, Dhanushkodi & Abdul Kalam House.
It takes 20 minutes to reach Ram setu. Nothing much to see. Dead end of Indian land. Blue sea everywhere.

Ram Setu

After a strong and unfortunate cyclone in 1964, Dhanushkodi and nearing areas got destroyed and around 1800+ people lost their lives including the people who were traveling in train to Rameshwaram and were on Pamban bridge.
After that this place was declared as uninhabited.

Dhanuskodi

Dhanuskodi has remains of the buildings, and church. Few shops are there. Nothing much to spend time. It brings a strange feeling remembering the cyclone. 

Next, Abdul Kalam house which has been turned into a museum with his belongings. There's nothing much to see, so we came back by 2 PM.

Former President Abdul Kalam's House

So, we had a memorable stay at Rameshwaram and got ready for next destination - Madurai. I will post the next story in separate blog. Keep following my blog and please do share your requests, suggestions and queries at - travelsphere@yahoo.com 

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